4 Top-Rated Drills To Tackle Any Home Project

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Power drills can accomplish a host of jobs around the home and yard, from putting up shelves to breaking up concrete. However, with hundreds of different models, a bewildering array of specifications, and prices that range from around twenty-five bucks to over four hundred, it's not easy to know where to invest your money.

To find answers, we've looked at four different types of drills that can tackle pretty much all the tasks a DIY enthusiast is likely to come across. While there can be some overlaps, they are usually divided into the following categories: drill drivers, hammer drills, rotary hammers, and impact drivers. We've looked at what they do best and chosen four top-rated examples.

The following are not necessarily the cheapest or the most powerful in their class, but each one offers very competitive performance and great value for money. Combine this information with how to choose which drill bit to use, and you'll be able to tackle any home project with confidence.

Even the most basic home tool kit needs a drill driver. While corded models do still exist, the vast majority are cordless. They can be lightweight 12-volt models for driving screws and basic household tasks. Many will fit easily into a cupboard drawer, and for some, these are among the 11 most affordable tools worth buying. There are also more powerful 18- and 20-volt models. These general-purpose tools are popular with both DIY enthusiasts and professionals.

Which you choose will probably depend on the level of DIY you're going to tackle, but if you're only going to buy one drill driver, a 12V model might not provide the all-round capability you need. When it comes to the larger drill drivers, there's a huge amount of choice in terms of both price and performance. The DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill Driver Kit offers outstanding value, and on Amazon, it has a rating of 4.8 stars from over 49,000 customers. It comes from a brand with an almost legendary reputation for reliability and durability and includes two batteries, a charger, and a useful carry bag. At just $99, it's a pro-grade tool for the same price as some budget models.

General-purpose drill drivers are great for making holes in wood, plastic, and even some metals, but they struggle with hard materials like masonry, cement, and cinder block. That's when you need a hammer drill. For example, if you want to put up shelves on drywall, a drill driver is fine. If the wall is made of brick or blockwork, all you'll likely do is run down the battery!

As you might guess from the name, a hammer drill adds a hammer action, so the drill bit moves rapidly backwards and forwards at the same time as it rotates. This extra energy breaks through tough surfaces. Key features are BMP (blows per minute, sometimes given as impacts per minute) and torque (twisting force). Almost all hammer drills can have the hammer function turned off so they can be used for ordinary drilling tasks, but not all have a driver function.

One option definitely worth considering in this category is the Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill Kit. The brand is known for high quality and performance while being more affordable than some big-name competitors. It costs $199 and has a 4.6-star rating at The Home Depot. This 2-speed tool delivers an impressive 32,000 BPM, 800 in-lbs (inch pounds) of torque, and includes a battery, charger, and bag. Before you decide whether this is the right tool for you, it's worth checking out the difference between a hammer drill and an impact driver.

A rotary hammer might be thought of as a hammer drill on steroids. They are typically bigger and more powerful, and they have an additional function: you can turn off the drill action completely, attach steel chisel bits, and you have a lightweight demolition tool. Think of it as a handheld jackhammer that can drill right through concrete or knock down walls.

On the plus side, if you need to take on some serious DIY challenges, a good rotary hammer could mean you don't need to call in a contractor. On the other hand, these are heavy-duty tools that require a certain amount of physicality to manage. They invariably have two handles, and you need a firm grip.

One of the most highly rated tools in this category, with 4.8 stars on Amazon, is the Bosch Bulldog Xtreme SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer. It is a corded tool, which keeps the price down to around $200. It has a drill, hammer drill, and hammer-only functions accessed by a big dial that can easily be operated with gloved hands. There is variable speed, variable chiseling angle, and user-friendly vibration control to reduce fatigue if you're using it for long periods. There are things to know about Bosch before investing in their power tools, but the Bulldog name is singled out for praise when working with concrete.

Finally, we have a drill that's not really a drill. Or rather it can be, but that's not its primary purpose. Picture a tool with a similar mechanism to a hammer drill, except instead of making holes in masonry, an impact driver is designed to rapidly fasten or release screws, nuts, and bolts. Instead of a chuck, it has a quick-change ¼-inch hex holder. This can accept screwdriver bits or small sockets. There are also adapters that will allow you to attach a standard drill chuck.

The combination of a hammer action and much higher torque than ordinary drill drivers means impact drivers are very good at driving large screws consistently. It's the sort of task that would soon drain the battery of a standard tool. An impact driver is also very compact, so it's easier to get into tight spaces to access awkwardly placed bolts, for example. We have an in-depth article on what you should know before buying an impact driver if you'd like more detailed information.

Our final tool pick is the Metabo HPT MultiVolt Brushless Cordless Impact Driver. Lowe's has it for $139, where it receives a 4.8-star rating. At just 5.3 inches from front to back and weighing 2.6 pounds, including battery, it's a good example of how compact these tools can be. It delivers 1,240 in-lbs of torque and 4,000 BPM. A battery, charger, and hard case complete the high-value package.